Although vaping absolutely doesn’t have to be this way, burnt hits happen to the best of us. From ruining a perfect moment to turning people off vaping completely, they have different repercussions – however, the good news is there are many ways to prevent and tackle the issue.

Today, we are going to talk through the most common causes of burnt hits – and the ways to fix them!

Tanks and AIOs

Vaping speed. Sometimes, it’s as simple as slowing down – some atomizers wick much faster than others, so in some instances, more time is required to give your coils a chance to catch up. Chain vaping isn’t always a problem, but you may need to get an atomizer with better temp control or boosted wicking abilities.

Burnt coils. That’s perhaps the lead issue of a burnt vape when using a tank – your coil head could simply be too old or burnt. If you suspect that could be the case, simply replace your coil – and the bitter taste will disappear instantly.

Lack of control. Mods with temperature control are a great aid when it comes to preventing burnt hits. They can be made of nickel, stainless steel or titanium – each metal can help limit the vaping temperature, keeping you in a safe range.

Priming issues. It’s important to prime the coil heads correctly to prevent burnt spells. Firstly, you need to install the coil and put several drops of e-liquid right on the wick holes. Upon filling your tank, you need to let it sit for about 30 minutes – it’s well worth the wait and helps improve performance. Following that, start at the lowest setting and slowly increase by a few watts until you reach the desired point.

Don’t exceed the maximum range of the coil head though – if unsure, read the manual or have a peek at the coil head, the number will be there. Excess wattage is a common reason of burnt taste. In general, the higher the resistance, the lower the watts should be – and vice versa. Exceeding the wattage is a sure way to burn the coil, resulting in replacement. If the taste is good though, you’re likely on a correct setting.

Check the juice, especially if you’ve checked the steps above but the vape still tastes terrible. For instance, if you’re using high-VG juices, those may simply be too thick for your atomizer. It’s all down to trial and error – experiment with various liquids until you hit the sweet spot for your device. Look at the ingredients as well – sweeteners such as sucralose can wreck the wicks and provoke dry, yucky hits. Such liquids are easy to identify though, as they are generally dark and almost opaque.

Rebuildable atomizers

Rebuildable dripping atomizers (RDAs) or tanks can sometimes be prone to bitter taste as well – and there could be a few issues resulting in this. Some of the most common culprits include:

Hitting a hot spot. A very common cause of burnt taste is when your coil forms a hot spot, which may cause it to glow red. This can cause an extremely unpleasant taste which is distinctly metallic, even if the wicks are completely saturated. The burnt spot on the fully saturated wicks isn’t always visible, unfortunately – so if you suspect a hot spot is the case, take the wicks out and toss them. Then, get the coils to pulse by pinching them with tweezers or using a compact screwdriver. Another thing to look out for is whether the coils are in contact with any inside parts of the atomizer.

Wicking issues. Many RTAs, and even other rebuildable atomizers can be difficult to the wick. A common issue is leakages caused by not using enough wicking material. On the opposite end, stuffing too much wickage can lead to – you guessed it – burnt taste. Do your research and find out the best method for your atomizer to avoid both issues and find the perfect middle ground – or simply experiment until you discover your perfect setup!

Insufficient coils maintenance. If you’re neglecting your coils and don’t change your wicks at least weekly, burnt hits shouldn’t be such a surprise. To clean the coils, take your atomizer apart and wash the coils with warm water, or get fancy and use an ultrasonic cleaner – and the gunk will be gone in no time. Sometimes, if the coils are too dark and burnt, they’re beyond the point of routine maintenance and need to be replaced – such is life.

Weather matters. As bizarre as it sounds, the weather can sometimes affect your vaping experience. Cold temperatures can cause the juice to thicken, leading to different burning properties and burnt taste. Bottom line? Avoid extreme weather conditions, and you’ll be sweet.

Conclusion

The burnt taste is often a combination of the factors above, and therefore can be quite a riddle to solve. Follow the steps above and don’t give up – and burnt hits will leave you for good.

Vaping has been invented to be pleasant and delicious, and bad taste is a definite indicator of some problems. We highly encourage you to work through the issues instead of switching to more dangerous activities such as smoking.

Once you resolve the issues and get a good hang of vaping, you’ll discover a whole new world of possibilities and amazing flavors. Keep discovering – and don’t ditch the vape!